The Irish standard., 1887-09-17

from mortal hands. This, if true, is q
very unreasonable proceeding on the
part Of Old Nick, seeing that the more
gold above ground the more grist to his
mill. However, a buried crock Of
goold' is sure to be guarded by fool
ish devil; and to guard against danger
it is absolutely necessary for the treas
ure seeker to draw a ring round him
with a black-hand]e knife, insidewhlch
ring no evil spirit can enter. He must
also take care not to let a single curse
pass his lips, CT his labor will be in vain
| The intelligent reader will have di
vined from the foregoing, that Tim
Croak's wife, Betty, dreamt three nights
running of crock Of gold hidden in a
particular spot near the bank of the
river, and that Tim and Shawn Cow
and Josh Keddy resolved to rise it.
Shawn came provided with bottle OF
smountain dew which made Josh des-
pair of success from tie outset. The
mountain dew would be sure to draw
out Shawn's talent for swearing. and SO
all would be lost, Josh said. Every
thing went On well, however, for tine
and success appeared certain, when Tim
announced that he had a cave But
then came the hollow noise from the
river, which surprised Shawn Cow into
letting fly the fatal curse
/ Tim Croak continued to implore his
companions to say the tDaprofundlsh,
or the Prayers for a soul departing,
or the Litany for the dying and in
sisted that he was dead man from his
hips down. Just then there was a
crash through the bushes on the bank
Of the river (from behind which the
hollow hoise had Gomez and immedi--
ately frightful below caused Josh
Reddy and Shawn Cow to roar 'mur--
der simultaneously; and running for
ward both fell into the hole where the
unfortunate Tim Croak was moaning
helplessly. This unexpected descent
caused themselves and Tim to roar in
chorus, and Brian Purcell, not we'll
knowing what to think Of the affair,
hastened to their assistance.
Whats the nlatter?' he cried out,
trying to make his voice heard above
the din. A series Of groans, and means
and growls was the only reply he could
get. He seized Josh by the shoulders
and pulled him out Of the hole, where
he had been wedged in between the
other two. He flung him upon the
grass at full length, and getting his
hands under Tins arms, he hauled him
up too. The blacksmith, having room
enough now, was able to scramble up
without assistance. Shawn sat upon
the grass and took swie from the
black bottle. But Josh and Tim re-
manned stretched at full length, appar-
emily incapable of motion.
Take a pull, says Shawn Cow, pre-
senting the black bottle to Brian.
mo, thank you The ludjcrousness
of the scene made Brian laugh out
right. He knocked ot1 Josh Reddy's
white hat with a tap Of his stick, and
gave Tim Croak a poke in the ribs. Tim
and Josh rose to a sitting posture.
Shawn handed Tim the black bottle.
and Tim took swig. Tim handed
Josh the bottle, and took a swig. And
Shawn and Tim and Josh began 10 look
comfortable, considering. Tim looked
down at his lower extremities, and find
ing them soaked with wet, he dragged
himself to the brink of the hole and put
his hand into it.
tBegob,' he exclaimed, ''twasn't dead
( was at all, but drownedn There was
at least four feet Of water in the hole.
The fact was, the river had worn away
it's bank near the bottom where Tim ex-
pected to find the gold. What he
thought was cave was the bed Of the
river. OF course the water rushed
through the opening he had made till it
found its level. And SO Tim, feeling
numbed with the cold. thought he
was dead man from his hips down
The hollow noise, and the below pro-
ceeded from a COW Of Brian Purcell's
which had been attracted by the light
Of the lantern to the place.
MAY the devil fly off wud me in air
nest,' growled Shawn Cow, If ever [
go digging for goold agln.'
Here's the same,' responded Tim
Cook, rising to his feet with q groan.
But Josh Reddy put on his white hat,
and said nothing. He was thoroughly
convinced that it was Sbawn's cursing
spoiled all.
AS Brian returned home, a horseman
ran furiously by him, like the ghost of
some unhappy fox.hunter, who could not
rest in his grave. He was able to recog
nize MIR. Mooney, This brought Knock
clough Hill into his head again; and by
the time he got home, the thought,
which he attempted to Danish with a
puff of tobacco smoke q while ago, WAS
lowering round and round him.
ITO be Continued.)